What has learning from the dead provided ?
1) detailed information about anatomy
2) opportunity to relate structure to function
3) ability to study the effects of disease processes and allow clinicopathological correlation / cause of death
4) evidence for criminal proceedings
5) ability to assess the impact of therapeutic intervention S
Do we still learn from the dead ?
YES because modern imaging techniques , biochem and biopsies provide va,usable information but do not explain everything
2) still used for neurodegenerative disorders
3
What is an autopsy
To see for oneself
What are the different types of autospies?
1) medicolegal
2) forensic
3) consent ( hospital )
What is a medicolegal autopsy?
- performed on behalf of HM coroner
- no consent needed
- it is a legal requirement
- deceased is often unknown
- obviously unnatural death
- death related to occupation or accident
- death related to medical treatment or procedure
- anyone who is detained by the state eg prison , mental hospital -
What is a forensic autopsy ?
- a branch of the coroner autopsy
- suspicious deaths
What is a consent autopsy ?
Consent is required from next of kin
- may limit examaination because next of kin states how far you are allowed to examine
What is involved in an autopsy? - what type of tests are taken out
- history is taken ( often limited because person is deceased)
- external examination ( whether it is a natural disease , injury or whether there was some medical intervention )
- internal examination : of all systems , it is quite limited sometimes usually when consent is required
- histologogical tests are often taken
- toxicology ( urine , bile , recreational drugs)
- biochemistry tests ( diabetes ketoacidosis , alcoholic ketoacidosis , renal failure )
- microbiology ( viruses , bacterial , fungi)
- molecular tests which often tests for genetic diseases , for example if people die too young of heart disease we want to see if this is genetic .
Who invented genetic fingerprinting?
Prof. Sir Alex jeffreys
What Re often the common areas of sudden death ?
- head
Heart
Blood vessels
Lungs
What is the advantage of post morgen imaging ?
Reduces the need for invasive autopsy
What is neuropathology?
- this involves cellular pathology restricted to the CNS, peripheral nerves. Muscle , trauma
What are issues with paediatric autopsies ?
- challenging emotionally and technically
- safeguarding issues
- medicolegal issues
What are positives about paediatric autopsies?
1( vital in providing answers for grieving family and medical staff
- parents want to know about ‘ next time ‘ , whether it will happen again in a future child,
- useful for teaching and research into congenital diseases
